B A ROLFE'S PALAIS D'OR ORCH.: 'Somebody Said', rec. 16 June 1927. скачать в хорошем качестве

B A ROLFE'S PALAIS D'OR ORCH.: 'Somebody Said', rec. 16 June 1927.

An uncharacteristically jazzy performance by B A Rolfe's Orchestra from Broadway's Chinese restaurant, the Palais D'Or - the flip side of the disc "Magnolia", previously posted. One of the last pre-electric recording sessions made by a major recording company in USA, when the acoustic recording system had progressed about as far as it could. The frequency response lumps and extreme lack of bass inherent in the pre-electric process have been corrected here by using an audio spectral response 'waterfall' graph to precisely match - by measurement - the acoustic spectrum to that of a similar combination playing on a more modern (electrical) recording, using digital graphic and parametric equalisers. An extreme amount of bass boost inevitably brought up the Edison disc's typically fearsome rumble level, which we sampled from the run-in groove, and used this to autocorrelate the rumble out of the original acoustic content. I think most folk will agree that this pre-electric recording is an impressive example. The former film producer turned band leader BENJAMIN ALBERT ROLFE (October 24, 1879 – April 23, 1956) was perhaps the only serious contender to Paul Whiteman in mastering the 1920s art of 'symphonic jazz'. Recording exclusively for Edison (1926-29), and made even more popular by his weekly nationwide broadcasts for Lucky Strike cigarettes or Hudson Terrapalane cars, many of his later recordings trended towards augmented dance aggregations of elephantine proportions. These symphonic arrangements were pretentiously elaborate, often stepping over the line to become - even more than Paul Whiteman - ostentatiously corny or distastefully exhibitionist. Through many, literally overblown exhibitions of Rolfe's trumpet virtuosity soar in showers of hemi-demi-semi-quavers, today producing more mirth than awe. The technical proficiency is impressive, but in their lack of syncopation and jazz content they hearken back towards the style of Sousa's Band more than they do to Whiteman's contemporaries and Whiteman's jazz solists. However, in these early pre-electric recordings made during Rolfe's tenure at Broadway's Palais D'Or cabaret, a delightful degree of unpretentious excellence was conveyed, over an impressive range of musical styles - jazz to light classical concert pieces by an augmented string section. From wikipedia: After being an infant prodigy on the trumpet, "In 1914, Rolfe turned his talents to the fledgling motion picture business, establishing his own production company, Rolfe Photoplays Inc. Although he filmed in California, Rolfe's productions were primarily made in and around Fort Lee, New Jersey, and distributed through an agreement with Louis B. Mayer's Metro Pictures Corporation. Rolfe's company produced more than 50 silent films, several of which were collaborations with director/screenwriter Oscar A. C. Lund, including the 1916 drama Dorian's Divorce starring Lionel Barrymore." "Rolfe acquired Dyreda Art Film Company in 1915." "His film company's last production was the 15-part mystery serial, The Master Mystery (1919), starring Harry Houdini. Mounting financial difficulties resulted in Rolfe Photoplays Inc. going out of business and before 1920 he was making a living producing and directing films for Metro Pictures and other small independent production companies such as A. H. Fischer, Inc., for which he produced Even as Eve and directed Man and Woman, both released in 1920. Rolfe's last directorial effort was A. H. Fischer's Miss 139 (1921), notable in that he managed to get a credible performance from star Diana Allen, the less than talented but dazzlingly beautiful former Ziegfeld Follies girl. She also starred in Man and Woman." "After leaving the film business, B.A. Rolfe quickly reestablished himself as a performing soloist, music instructor and vaudeville producer. He worked with Vincent Lopez in 1924 and 1925. Inspired by Paul Whiteman, by 1926 he had assembled his own New York City dance orchestra to perform at a Broadway cabaret called the Palais D'Or. Soon billed as "B.A. Rolfe (Trumpet Virtuoso) and his Palais D'Or Orchestra," by 1928 he was performing on radio and recording as "B.A. Rolfe and his Lucky Strike Orchestra" for Edison Records. Rolfe was an exclusive Edison artist from 1926 through October, 1929, when Edison suspended its recording operation." "Rolfe made electrical transcriptions in the early 1930s and made two Vitaphone shorts in 1934 and in 1935. In 1935–36, Rolfe was the leader of The Goodrich Silvertown Orchestra. His radio broadcasts ran until the late 1930s during which time he and his orchestra played music with the sponsorship of 'Believe It or Not!' on NBC. Rolfe also narrated the shows, providing an on-air description of a Robert Ripley tale of wonder. With the onset of World War II, Rolfe organized an all-female orchestra to perform patriotic songs." "At the age of 76, he died of cancer in Walpole, Massachusetts."